Week 1- Individual Differences

Question 1

What is inherent characteristics?

Answer 1

Characteristics that are based on genetic make-up and are not easily changeable

Question 2

What is acquired characteristics?

Answer 2

Characteristics that result from experience and are partly chosen.

Question 3

What are examples of inherent characteristics?

Answer 3

1- Age
2- Gender
3- Ethnicity

Question 4

What are examples of acquired characteristics?

Answer 4

1- Religion
2- Career path
3- Education

Question 5

Biologically, how do identical twins occur and what does this mean in relation to their DNA?

Answer 5

Identical twins occurs when the egg divides after conception.

This means they share 100% of their DNA.

Question 6

Biologically, how do non identical twins occur and what does this mean in relation to their DNA?

Answer 6

Non identical twins result from fertilisation of two eggs.

They don’t share the same DNA.

Question 7

If intelligence is inherent (genetic), what will the levels of intelligence be between identical twins and between non identical twins?

Answer 7

If intelligence is inherent (genetic), identical twins will have very similar intelligence

Whereas non identical twins will have much less similar levels of intelligence.

Question 8

If adoptive parents have a high socioeconomic status, what impact will that have on the child?

Answer 8

This will result in the child being more likely to have a higher level of intelligence.

Question 9

What is epigenetics?

Answer 9

How behaviours and the environment cause changes to the way your genes operate

Question 10

What is the function of the neurone?

Answer 10

Transmits information from one place to another

Question 11

How do dendrites work?

Answer 11

Dendrites receive signals from sensory receptors and other neurones.

This causes a small change in the electrical charge in the neurone.

If there is a sufficient change in electrical charge, an action potential is created.

Question 12

What happens in the nucleus in the neurone?

Answer 12

It’s where energy is created and stored and where most of the components of the neurone are created.

Question 13

What is the function of the axon?

Answer 13

Conducts electrical signals from one place to another.

Question 14

How does the myelin sheath insulate axons and what does this allow?

Answer 14

The myelin sheath insulates axons by wrapping itself around the axon

This allows electrical signals to be transmitted faster.

Question 15

What causes the release of the neurotransmitter from the axon terminal?

Answer 15

An action potential

Question 16

What is the synapse?

Answer 16

The synapse is the gap between the axon terminals on one neurone and the dendrites on the next neurone.

Question 17

Why is the change from electrical to to chemical activity in the neurone important for function?

Answer 17

Because if there were only electrical signals, activity in one neurone would automatically cause activity in the next.

There would be no control

Question 18

What can neurotransmitters do to neurones and what does this allow?

Answer 18

Neurotransmitters are able to either increase or decrease the activity in the next neurone.

This means it is possible to turn the next neurone on or off giving greater flexibility.

Question 19

Neural pathways with many synapses create what?

Answer 19

Habitual behaviours

Question 20

What could increase the number of neurones you have?

Answer 20

1- Loads of experiences
2- Aerobic exercise

Question 21

What is a fixed mindset?

Answer 21

Belief that intelligence, personality or any ability is fixed and that a current measure of our ability predicts how we will always be.

Question 22

What is a growth mindset?

Answer 22

Growth mindset- belief that we do not yet know our own potential but it’s always possible to improve with effort and perseverance.

A current measure is only a measure of current ability, not future ability.

Question 23

How can we study whether behaviours are determined genetically or through experience?

Answer 23

Through twin and adoption studies

Question 24

What increases the plasticity in the brain?

Answer 24

1- Having lots of different types of experiences
2- Exercise

Question 25

What decreases plasticity in the brain?

Answer 25

1- Anxiety
2- Depression